President says without Chinese students US college system would ‘go to hell’
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday defended his proposal to admit hundreds of thousands of Chinese students, saying the US is “honored” to host them and warning that the American college system would “go to hell” without them.
Facing growing anger from his political base, Trump dismissed criticism of the plan as “insulting” and pointed to his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping as part of a broader strategy of engagement.
“We’re getting along very well with China, and I’m getting along very well with President Xi,” he said during a cabinet meeting at the White House. “I think it’s very insulting to say students can’t come here.”
Trump argued that allowing Chinese students was mutually beneficial, claiming their absence would devastate American universities.
